At a Glance
- Matty Matheson partners with KFC on a poutine-inspired bowl blending fries, cheese curds, and gravy
- The Bear star leans on Canadian roots to make indulgent comfort food accessible nationwide
- Matheson parallels restaurant life with filming The Bear, stressing teamwork and mental health
- Why it matters: Fans get chef-driven flavor at fast-food prices while Matheson juggles TV shoots, Netflix series, and a new product launch
Matty Matheson has turned his lifelong love of Canadian comfort food into a nationwide fast-food collaboration. The 43-year-old chef, restaurateur, and scene-stealer from Hulu’s The Bear is launching Matty’s Cheesy Nuggy Gravy Bowl with KFC while filming the show’s fifth season and prepping a new Netflix drop.
From Poutine Nostalgia to KFC Menu Line
The limited-time bowl reimagines classic Canadian poutine: crispy fries topped with squeaky cheese curds and hot gravy. Matheson describes the textures with trademark enthusiasm.
“You’ve got fluffy, crispy, salty fries, beautiful, stringy cheese curds-almost marshmallow-y-and then gravy,” he tells News Of Losangeles. “As you pour the gravy on, it doesn’t melt right away, so you get multiple textures and mouth feels. It evolves instantly while you’re eating it.”
The partnership aims to deliver chef-level comfort without restaurant prices. Matheson, raised in a gravy-loving household, sees the bowl as nostalgia in disposable form.
“Getting people eating a yummy bowl-that’s exciting to me,” he adds.
Balancing Television and the Kitchen
Matheson’s parallel careers intersect on The Bear, where he plays Neil Fak, the show’s self-described “emotional glue.” Originally a smaller role, Fak expanded as writers noticed the character’s quiet vulnerability.
“He’s this odd, vulnerable glue between everybody,” Matheson explains. “He’s listening, he’s kind, he’s giving. He just wants everyone to win.”
Off camera, Matheson draws direct parallels between restaurant brigades and TV crews:
- Long, demanding days
- Team-driven goals
- Constant on-the-fly problem solving
He likens restaurants more to live theater than film: diners arrive at set times, staff must hit marks, and mise en place has to be perfect.
Mental Health in High-Pressure Worlds
Both kitchens and sets can strain mental health. Matheson’s coping recipe mixes humor with support systems.
“Having fun, trying to make people laugh,” he says. “I really believe you can work hard and have fun at the same time.”
When asked about stress snacking, he jokes, “I just eat poutines… just jam poutines,” before crediting positive people for keeping him grounded.
January 2026 Release Slate
The KFC launch joins a packed month:
- Jan. 20: Season three of his Netflix show Just a Dash drops
- Continued filming on The Bear season five
- Promotional events for the gravy bowl across Canadian and U.S. locations
Matheson’s 2026 outlook focuses on momentum over resolutions.
“We’ve got 24 hours,” he says. “If we can just try to be a little bit better today and love a little bit more and try to have some kind of ripple effect of putting some positivity out there-I think that’s all we can manage at this moment.”
Key Takeaways
- Accessibility: Premium poutine flavor at fast-food prices
- Heritage: Dish rooted in Matheson’s Canadian upbringing
- Synergy: TV stardom and culinary credibility feed each other
- Mindset: Emphasis on teamwork, humor, and incremental daily improvement
